Tate & Lyle, a leading global provider of food and beverage solutions and ingredients, will be opening a new state-of-the-art food and beverage Technical Application Centre in Dubai on 18 October.
At the new US$2 million Technical Application Centre located in Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Tate & Lyle’s food scientists will work with food and beverage customers to address growing demand for solutions that lower sugar, fat and calories, and add fibre, in consumer products. Through their expertise in the beverage, dairy, bakery, sauce and dressing categories, Tate and Lyle’s scientists will support manufacturers across the Middle East, Turkey and Africa to deliver successful food formulation, from ingredients and recipes to the application and sensory experience.
Dominique Floch, General Manager, Turkey, Middle East and Africa at Tate & Lyle, said: “The launch of our new Technical Application Centre in Dubai marks a milestone in our expansion in the region. We will be using cutting edge technology to provide our food and beverage partners with faster service and quicker project turnaround timeframes, which will be instrumental in increasing their speed to market. We are committed to providing a platform for food and beverage companies to meet consumer demand for great-tasting products which support a balanced diet and lifestyle.”
Through the new Centre, food and beverage manufacturers will not only have access to Tate & Lyle’s expertise in food formulation, but also to its wide range of speciality ingredients and solutions. These help manufacturers maintain the sweetness of their products while reducing sugar content and to deliver products high in fibre. Tate & Lyle’s experts on texture can also advise on how to create the exact formulation needed to make products customers love.
According to a report by Colliers International, the number of people with diabetes in the Middle East and North Africa is expected to increase by 110% to 82 million people by 2045, significantly impacting mortality, leading to lower productivity and increased healthcare expenditure.
A range of factors has contributed to the “Diabesity” epidemic in the Gulf region. These include altered eating patterns due to increased income and urbanisation, sedentary lifestyles and increased consumption of sugar.
As a result, the UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHaP) has launched a series of initiatives to monitor and cut the rate of obesity among children and adults.
Dominique Floch added, “Tate & Lyle’s purpose is Improving Lives for Generations and that’s why we are delighted to be able to support the government’s goal to reduce obesity and provide education and lifestyle alternatives in line with the UAE Vision 2021. Supported by decades of scientific research and innovation, our new Technical Application Centre will help food and beverage manufacturers reduce sugar in food and drink and provide cleaner product labels.”
The new Tate & Lyle Technical Application Centre will be officially opened by Tate & Lyle’s global CEO Nick Hampton on Monday 18 October at 11am. The Centre is located on the lake level, Cluster X, Jumeirah Lakes Towers.